Multi-speed transmission

ABSTRACT

A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least eleven forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.

FIELD

The invention relates generally to a multiple speed transmission havinga plurality of planetary gear sets and a plurality of torquetransmitting devices, and more particularly to a transmission havingeleven or more speeds, four planetary gear sets and a plurality oftorque transmitting devices.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute priorart.

A typical multiple speed transmission uses a combination of frictionclutches or brakes, planetary gear arrangements and fixedinterconnections to achieve a plurality of gear ratios. The number andphysical arrangement of the planetary gear sets, generally, are dictatedby packaging, cost and desired speed ratios.

While current transmissions achieve their intended purpose, the need fornew and improved transmission configurations which exhibit improvedperformance, especially from the standpoints of efficiency,responsiveness and smoothness and improved packaging, primarily reducedsize and weight, is essentially constant. Accordingly, there is a needfor an improved, cost-effective, compact multiple speed transmission.

SUMMARY

A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member,four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and aplurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gearsets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmittingdevices are for example clutches and brakes.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a transmission is providedhaving an input member, an output member, a first, second, third andfourth planetary gear sets each having sun gears, carrier members andring gears.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the input member iscontinuously interconnected with the sun gear of the second planetarygear set and the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the output member iscontinuously interconnected with the carrier member of the thirdplanetary gear set.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the output member iscontinuously interconnected with the ring gear of the third planetarygear set.

Additionally, in another embodiment of the present invention, a firstinterconnecting member continuously interconnects the carrier member ofthe first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the second planetarygear set.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a secondinterconnecting member continuously interconnects the ring gear of thefirst planetary gear set with the sun gear of the third planetary gearset and the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a thirdinterconnecting member continuously interconnects the sun gear of thesecond planetary gear set with the carrier member of the fourthplanetary gear set.

Further, in still another embodiment of the present invention, a firsttorque transmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect thecarrier member of the second planetary gear set with the input member,the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member ofthe fourth planetary gear set.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a second torquetransmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect thecarrier member of the second planetary gear set with the ring gear ofthe first planetary gear set, the sun gear of the third planetary gearset and the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a third torquetransmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the ringgear of the fourth planetary gear set with the output member and atleast one of the carrier member and the ring gear of the third planetarygear set.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a fourth torquetransmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect thecarrier member of the second planetary gear set with the stationarymember.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a fifth torquetransmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect thecarrier member of the first planetary gear set and the ring gear of thesecond planetary gear set with the stationary member.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a sixth torquetransmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect the sungear of the first planetary gear set with the stationary member.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a seventh torquetransmitting device is selectively engageable to interconnect at leastone of the ring gear and the carrier member of the third planetary gearset with the stationary member.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the torquetransmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of atleast three to establish at least eleven forward speed ratios and atleast one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the outputmember.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier memberof the third planetary gear set includes a first and second set ofplanetary gears. The first set of planetary gears intermesh with boththe sun gear and the second set of planetary gears and the second set ofplanetary gears intermesh with both the ring gear of the third planetarygear set and the second set of planetary gears.

Further features, aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent by reference to the following description and appendeddrawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component,element or feature.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a lever diagram of an embodiment of an eleven speedtransmission according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of an eleven speedtransmission according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of an eleven speedtransmission according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a truth table presenting the state of engagement of thevarious torque transmitting elements in each of the available forwardand reverse speeds or gear ratios of the transmission illustrated inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

At the outset, it should be appreciated that in the particular exampleprovided, the eleven speed automatic transmission of the presentinvention has an arrangement of permanent mechanical connections betweenthe elements of the four planetary gear sets. A second component orelement of a first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to a firstcomponent or element of a second planetary gear set. A third componentor element of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to afirst component or element of a third planetary gear set and to a firstcomponent or element of a fourth planetary gear set. A third componentor element of a second planetary gear set is permanently coupled to asecond component or element of a fourth planetary gear set.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an eleven speed transmission10 is illustrated in a lever diagram format. A lever diagram is aschematic representation of the components of a mechanical device suchas an automatic transmission. Each individual lever represents aplanetary gear set wherein the three basic mechanical components of theplanetary gear set are each represented by a node. Therefore, a singlelever contains three nodes: one for the sun gear, one for the planetgear carrier, and one for the ring gear. The relative length between thenodes of each lever can be used to represent the ring-to-sun ratio ofeach respective gear set. These lever ratios, in turn, are used to varythe gear ratios of the transmission in order to achieve appropriateratios and ratio progression. Mechanical couplings or interconnectionsbetween the nodes of the various planetary gear sets are illustrated bythin, horizontal lines and torque transmitting devices such as clutchesand brakes are presented as interleaved fingers. If the device is abrake, one set of the fingers is grounded. Further explanation of theformat, purpose and use of lever diagrams can be found in SAE Paper810102, “The Lever Analogy: A New Tool in Transmission Analysis” byBenford and Leising which is hereby fully incorporated by reference.

The transmission 10 includes an input shaft or member 12, a firstplanetary gear set 14 having three nodes: a first node 14A, a secondnode 14B and a third node 14C, a second planetary gear set 16 havingthree nodes: a first node 16A, a second node 16B and a third node 16C, athird planetary gear set 18 having three nodes: a first node 18A, asecond node 18B and a third node 18C, a fourth planetary gear set 20having three nodes: a first node 20A, a second node 20B and a third node20C and an output shaft or member 22.

The input member 12 is coupled to the third node 16C of the secondplanetary gear set 16. The second node 14B of the first planetary gearset 14 is coupled to a first node 16A of the second planetary gear set16. The third node 14C of the first planetary gear set 14 is coupled tothe first node 18A of the third planetary gear set 18 and to the firstnode 20A of the fourth planetary gear set 20. The third node 16C of thesecond planetary gear set 16 is coupled to the second node 20B of thefourth planetary gear set 20.

A first clutch 24 selectively connects the second node 16B of the secondplanetary gear set 16 with the input shaft or member 12, the third node16C of the second planetary gear set 16 and second node 20B of thefourth planetary gear set 20. A second clutch 26 selectively connectsthe third node 14C of the first planetary gear set 14, the first node18A of the third planetary gear set 18 and the first node 20A of thefourth planetary gear set 20 with the second node 16B of the secondplanetary gear set 16. A third clutch 28 selectively connects the secondnode 18B of the third planetary gear set 18 and the output shaft ormember 22 with the third node 20C of the fourth planetary gear set 20. Afirst brake 30 selectively connects the second node 16B of the secondplanetary gear set 16 with the stationary element or a transmissionhousing 50. A second brake 32 selectively connects the first node 14B ofthe first planetary gear set 14 with the stationary element or atransmission housing 50. A third brake 34 selectively connects the firstnode 14A of the first planetary gear set 14 with the stationary elementor a transmission housing 50. A fourth brake 36 selectively connects thethird node 18C of the third planetary gear set 18 with the stationaryelement or the transmission housing 50.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a stick diagram presents a schematic layout ofthe embodiment of the eleven speed transmission 10 according to thepresent invention. In FIG. 2, the numbering from the lever diagram ofFIG. 1 is carried over. The clutches, brakes, and couplings arecorrespondingly presented whereas the nodes of the planetary gear setsnow appear as components of planetary gear sets such as sun gears, ringgears, planet gears and planet gear carriers.

The planetary gear set 14 includes a sun gear member 14A, a ring gearmember 14C and a planet gear carrier member 14B that rotatably supportsa set of planet gears 14D (only one of which is shown). The set ofplanet gears 14D are each configured to intermesh with both the sun gearmember 14A and the ring gear member 14C. The sun gear member 14A isconnected for common rotation with a first shaft or interconnectingmember 42. The ring gear member 14C is connected for common rotationwith a second shaft or interconnecting member 44. The planet carriermember 14B is connected for common rotation with a third shaft orinterconnecting member 46 and a fourth shaft or interconnecting member48.

The planetary gear set 16 includes a sun gear member 16C, a ring gearmember 16A and a planet gear carrier member 16B that rotatably supportsa set of planet gears 16D (only one of which is shown). The planet gears16D are each configured to intermesh with both the sun gear member 16Cand the ring gear member 16A. The sun gear member 16C is connected forcommon rotation with the input shaft or member 12. The ring gear member16A is connected for common rotation with the third shaft orinterconnecting member 46. The planet carrier member 16B is connectedfor common rotation with a fifth shaft or interconnecting member 52 andwith a sixth shaft or interconnecting member 54.

The planetary gear set 18 includes a sun gear member 18A, a ring gearmember 18C and a planet gear carrier member 18B that rotatably supportsa set of planet gears 18D (only one of which is shown). The set ofplanet gears 18D are each configured to intermesh with both the sun gearmember 18A and the ring gear member 18C. The sun gear member 18A isconnected for common rotation with the second shaft or interconnectingmember 44 and with a seventh shaft or interconnecting member 56. Thering gear member 18C is connected for common rotation with an eighthshaft or interconnecting member 58. The planet carrier member 18B isconnected for common rotation with the output shaft or member 22.

The planetary gear set 20 includes a sun gear member 20A, a ring gearmember 20C and a planet gear carrier member 20B that rotatably supportsa set of planet gears 20D (only one of which is shown). The set ofplanet gears 20D are each configured to intermesh with both the sun gearmember 20A and the ring gear member 20C. The sun gear member 20A isconnected for common rotation with the seventh shaft or interconnectingmember 56. The ring gear member 20C is connected for common rotationwith a ninth shaft or interconnecting member 60. The planet carriermember 20B is connected for common rotation with the input shaft ormember 12.

The input shaft or member 12 is continuously connected to an engine (notshown) or to a turbine of a torque converter (not shown). The outputshaft or member 22 is continuously connected with the final drive unitor transfer case (not shown).

The torque-transmitting mechanisms or the clutches 24, 26, 28 and thebrakes 30, 32, 34 and 36 allow for selective interconnection of theshafts or interconnecting members, members of the planetary gear setsand the housing. For example, the first clutch 24 is selectivelyengageable to connect the input shaft or member 12 with the fifth shaftor interconnecting member 52. The second clutch 26 is selectivelyengageable to connect the second shaft or interconnecting member 44 withthe sixth shaft or interconnecting member 54. The third clutch 28 isselectively engageable to connect the output shaft or member 22 with theninth shaft or interconnecting member 60. The first brake 30 isselectively engageable to connect the fifth shaft or interconnectingmember 52 with a stationary element or the transmission housing 50 inorder to prevent the fifth shaft or interconnecting member 52 fromrotating relative to the transmission housing 50. The second brake 32 isselectively engageable to connect the fourth shaft or interconnectingmember 48 with a stationary element or the transmission housing 50 inorder to prevent the fourth shaft or interconnecting member 48 fromrotating relative to the transmission housing 50. The third brake 34 isselectively engageable to connect the first shaft or interconnectingmember 42 with the stationary element or the transmission housing 50 inorder to prevent the first shaft or interconnecting member 42 fromrotating relative to the transmission housing 50. The fourth brake 36 isselectively engageable to connect the eighth shaft or interconnectingmember 58 with the stationary element or the transmission housing 50 inorder to prevent the eighth shaft or interconnecting member 58 fromrotating relative to the transmission housing 50.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a stick diagram presents a schematic layout ofan alternate embodiment of an eleven speed transmission 10′ according tothe present invention. In FIG. 3, the numbering from the lever diagramof FIG. 1 is carried over. In the instant embodiment, input shaft ormember 12, planetary gear sets 14, 16 and 20, interconnecting shafts ormembers 42, 44, 46, 48, 52, 54, 56 and 60 are configured and spatiallydisposed as described above with respect to transmission 10. However,output shaft 22, planetary gear set 18 and interconnecting shaft ormember 58 are reconfigured as output shaft 22′, planetary gear set 18′,interconnecting shaft or member 58′ as described below.

For example, the planetary gear set 18′ includes a sun gear member 18A′,a ring gear member 18B′ and a planet gear carrier member 18C′ thatrotatably supports a first set of planet gears 18D′ (only one of whichis shown) and a second set of planet gears 18E′ (only one of which isshown). The first set of planet gears 18D′ are each configured tointermesh with both the sun gear member 18A′ and the second set ofplanet gears 18E′. The second set of planet gears 18E′ are eachconfigured to intermesh with both the ring gear member 18B′ and thefirst set of planet gears 18D′. The sun gear member 18A′ is connectedfor common rotation with the second shaft or interconnecting member 44and with the seventh shaft or interconnecting member 56. The ring gearmember 18B′ is connected for common rotation with the output shaft ormember 22′. The planet carrier member 18C′ is connected for commonrotation with the eighth shaft or interconnecting member 58′.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the operation of the embodiments ofthe eleven speed transmission 10 and 10′ will be described. It will beappreciated that the transmissions 10 and 10′ are capable oftransmitting torque from the input shaft or member 12 to the outputshaft or member 22 in at least eleven forward speed or torque ratios andat least one reverse speed or torque ratio with a quadruple overdrive.Each forward and reverse speed or torque ratio is attained by engagementof one or more of the torque-transmitting mechanisms (i.e. first clutch24, second clutch 26, third clutch 28, first brake 30, second brake 32,third brake 34 and fourth brake 36), as will be explained below. FIG. 4is a truth table presenting the various combinations oftorque-transmitting elements that are activated or engaged to achievethe various gear states. Actual numerical gear ratios of the variousgear states are also presented although it should be appreciated thatthese numerical values are exemplary only and that they may be adjustedover significant ranges to accommodate various applications andoperational criteria of the transmissions 10 and 10′. An example of thegear ratios that may be obtained using the embodiments of the presentinvention are also shown in FIG. 4. Of course, other gear ratios areachievable depending on the gear diameter, gear teeth count and gearconfiguration selected.

For example, to establish reverse gear, the first brake 30, the thirdbrake 34 and fourth brake 36 are engaged or activated. The first brake30 connects the fifth shaft or interconnecting member 52 with astationary element or the transmission housing 50 in order to preventthe fifth shaft or interconnecting member 52 from rotating relative tothe transmission housing 50. The third brake 34 connects the first shaftor interconnecting member 42 with the stationary element or thetransmission housing 50 in order to prevent the first shaft orinterconnecting member 42 from rotating relative to the transmissionhousing 50. The fourth brake 36 connects the eighth shaft orinterconnecting member 58 in transmission 10 (or interconnecting shaft58′ in transmission 10′) with the stationary element or the transmissionhousing 50 in order to prevent the eighth shaft or interconnectingmember 58 (or interconnecting shaft 58′ in transmission 10′) fromrotating relative to the transmission housing 50. Likewise, the elevenforward ratios are achieved through different combinations of clutch andbrake engagement, as shown in FIG. 4.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing explanation of operation andgear states of the eleven speed transmission 10 and 10′ assumes, firstof all, that all the clutches and brakes not specifically referenced ina given gear state are inactive or disengaged and, second of all, thatduring gear shifts, i.e., changes of gear state, between at leastadjacent gear states, a clutch or brake engaged or activated in bothgear states will remain engaged or activated.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature andvariations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transmission comprising: an input member; anoutput member; first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets eachhaving first, second and third members; a first interconnecting membercontinuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetarygear set with the first member of the second planetary gear set; asecond interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the thirdmember of the first planetary gear set with the first member of thethird planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetarygear set; a third interconnecting member continuously interconnectingthe third member of the second planetary gear set with the second memberof the fourth planetary gear set; and seven torque transmitting deviceseach selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the first,second, and third members with at least one other of the first members,second members, third members and a stationary member, and wherein thetorque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinationsof at least three to establish at least eleven forward speed ratios andat least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the outputmember.
 2. The transmission of claim 1 wherein a first of the seventorque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnectthe second member of the second planetary gear set with the inputmember, the third member of the second planetary gear set and the secondmember of the fourth planetary gear set.
 3. The transmission of claim 2wherein a second of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectivelyengageable to interconnect the second member of the second planetarygear set with the third member of the first planetary gear set, thefirst member of the third planetary gear set and the first member of thefourth planetary gear set.
 4. The transmission of claim 3 wherein athird of the seven torque transmitting devices is selectively engageableto interconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set withthe output member and the second member of the third planetary gear set.5. The transmission of claim 4 wherein a fourth of the seven torquetransmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect thesecond member of the second planetary gear set with the stationarymember.
 6. The transmission of claim 5 wherein a fifth of the seventorque transmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnectthe second member of the first planetary gear set and the first memberof the second planetary gear set with the stationary member.
 7. Thetransmission of claim 6 wherein a sixth of the seven torque transmittingdevices is selectively engageable to interconnect the first member ofthe first planetary gear set with the stationary member.
 8. Thetransmission of claim 7 wherein a seventh of the seven torquetransmitting devices is selectively engageable to interconnect the thirdmember of the third planetary gear set with the stationary member. 9.The transmission of claim 1 wherein the first member of the firstplanetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set,the first member of the third planetary gear set and the first member ofthe fourth planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of thefirst planetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gearset, the second member of the third planetary gear set and the secondmember of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and thethird member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of thesecond planetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gearset and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set are ringgears.
 10. The transmission of claim 1 wherein the third member of thethird planetary gear set is a carrier member and rotatably supports afirst and second set of planetary gears, wherein the first set ofplanetary gears intermesh with both the first member of the thirdplanetary gear set and the second set of planetary gears and the secondset of planetary gears intermesh with both the second member of thethird planetary gear set and the second set of planetary gears.
 11. Thetransmission of claim 1 wherein the input member is continuouslyinterconnected with the third member of the second planetary gear setand the second member of the fourth planetary gear set and the outputmember is continuously interconnected with the second member of thethird planetary gear set.
 12. The transmission of claim 1 wherein fourof the seven torque transmitting devices are brakes and three of theseven torque transmitting devices are clutches.
 13. The transmission ofclaim 1 wherein the stationary member is a transmission housing.
 14. Atransmission comprising: an input member; an output member; first,second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, secondand third members, wherein the input member is continuouslyinterconnected with the third member of the second planetary gear setand the second member of the fourth planetary gear set and the outputmember is continuously interconnected with the second member of thethird planetary gear set; a first interconnecting member continuouslyinterconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set withthe first member of the second planetary gear set; a secondinterconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member ofthe first planetary gear set with the first member of the thirdplanetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetary gearset; a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting thethird member of the second planetary gear set with the second member ofthe fourth planetary gear set; a first torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the second member of the secondplanetary gear set with the input member, the third member of the secondplanetary gear set and the second member of the fourth planetary gearset; a second torque transmitting device selectively engageable tointerconnect the second member of the second planetary gear set with thethird member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of thethird planetary gear set and the first member of the fourth planetarygear set; a third torque transmitting device selectively engageable tointerconnect the third member of the fourth planetary gear set with theoutput member and the second member of the third planetary gear set; afourth torque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnectthe second member of the second planetary gear set with a stationarymember; a fifth torque transmitting device selectively engageable tointerconnect the second member of the first planetary gear set and thefirst member of the second planetary gear set with the stationarymember; and a sixth torque transmitting device selectively engageable tointerconnect the first member of the first planetary gear set with thestationary member; and a seventh torque transmitting devices selectivelyengageable to interconnect the third member of the third planetary gearset with the stationary member, and wherein the torque transmittingdevices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three toestablish at least eleven forward speed ratios and at least one reversespeed ratio between the input member and the output member.
 15. Thetransmission of claim 14 wherein the first member of the first planetarygear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set, the firstmember of the third planetary gear set and the first member of thefourth planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of the firstplanetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gear set,the second member of the third planetary gear set and the second memberof the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and the thirdmember of the first planetary gear set, the first member of the secondplanetary gear set, the third member of the third planetary gear set andthe third member of the fourth planetary gear set are ring gears. 16.The transmission of claim 14 wherein the first member of the firstplanetary gear set, the third member of the second planetary gear set,the first member of the third planetary gear set and the first member ofthe fourth planetary gear set are sun gears, the second member of thefirst planetary gear set, the second member of the second planetary gearset, the third member of the third planetary gear set and the secondmember of the fourth planetary gear set are carrier members and thethird member of the first planetary gear set, the first member of thesecond planetary gear set, the second member of the third planetary gearset and the third member of the fourth planetary gear set are ringgears.
 17. The transmission of claim 16 wherein the carrier member ofthe third planetary gear set further comprises a first and second set ofplanetary gears, wherein the first set of planetary gears intermesh withboth the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and the second set ofplanetary gears and the second set of planetary gears intermesh withboth the ring gear of the third planetary gear set and the second set ofplanetary gears.
 18. The transmission of claim 14 wherein the stationarymember is a transmission housing.
 19. A transmission comprising: aninput member; an output member; first, second, third and fourthplanetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a carrier member and a ringgear, wherein the input member is continuously interconnected with thesun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member of thefourth planetary gear set and the output member is continuouslyinterconnected with the carrier member of the third planetary gear set;a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the carriermember of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear of the secondplanetary gear set; a second interconnecting member continuouslyinterconnecting the ring gear of the first planetary gear set with thesun gear of the third planetary gear set and the sun gear of the fourthplanetary gear set; a third interconnecting member continuouslyinterconnecting the sun gear of the second planetary gear set with thecarrier member of the fourth planetary gear set; a first torquetransmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the carriermember of the second planetary gear set with the input member, the sungear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member of thefourth planetary gear set; a second torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the secondplanetary gear set with the ring gear of the first planetary gear set,the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and the sun gear of thefourth planetary gear set; a third torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear of the fourthplanetary gear set with the output member and the carrier member of thethird planetary gear set; a fourth torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the firstplanetary gear set with the stationary member; a fifth torquetransmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the carriermember of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear of the secondplanetary gear set with the stationary member; a sixth torquetransmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect the sun gearof the first planetary gear set with the stationary member; and aseventh torque transmitting device selectively engageable tointerconnect the ring gear of the third planetary gear set with thestationary member, and wherein the torque transmitting devices areselectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish atleast eleven forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratiobetween the input member and the output member.
 20. A transmissioncomprising: an input member; an output member; first, second, third andfourth planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a carrier member anda ring gear, wherein the input member is continuously interconnectedwith the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carriermember of the fourth planetary gear set and the output member iscontinuously interconnected with the ring gear of the third planetarygear set; a first interconnecting member continuously interconnectingthe carrier member of the first planetary gear set with the ring gear ofthe second planetary gear set; a second interconnecting membercontinuously interconnecting the ring gear of the first planetary gearset with the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and the sun gearof the fourth planetary gear set; a third interconnecting membercontinuously interconnecting the sun gear of the second planetary gearset with the carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set; a firsttorque transmitting device selectively engageable to interconnect thecarrier member of the second planetary gear set with the input member,the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the carrier member ofthe fourth planetary gear set; a second torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the secondplanetary gear set with the ring gear of the first planetary gear set,the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and the sun gear of thefourth planetary gear set; a third torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear of the fourthplanetary gear set with the output member and the ring gear of the thirdplanetary gear set; a fourth torque transmitting device selectivelyengageable to interconnect the carrier member of the second planetarygear set with a stationary member; a fifth torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the firstplanetary gear set and ring gear of the second planetary gearset withthe stationary member; a sixth torque transmitting device selectivelyengageable to interconnect the sun gear of the first planetary gear setwith the stationary member; and a seventh torque transmitting deviceselectively engageable to interconnect the carrier member of the thirdplanetary gear set with the stationary member, and wherein the torquetransmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of atleast three to establish at least eleven forward speed ratios and atleast one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the outputmember.
 21. The transmission of claim 20 wherein the carrier member ofthe third planetary gear set further comprises a first and second set ofplanetary gears, wherein the first set of planetary gears intermesh withboth the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and the second set ofplanetary gears and the second set of planetary gears intermesh withboth the ring gear of the third planetary gear set and the second set ofplanetary gears.